A Member of the Human-ist Race
I want to clarify a few things. To those of you who say I am endorsing Palin...
Where does it say that I endorse Sarah Palin?
Nowhere.
At no point in the September 8th blog did I say I endorse Palin. I said she is a strong women.
What is wrong with that?
Nothing.
If you pay attention to the words, you would see that the blog says nothing about endorsements. This isn't political. The blog says, "Whether or not we stand on the same side of the fence, she gives off the aura of being a strong woman...."
Let's face it. No matter what people read, sometimes they only hear what they want to hear.
Let's give Sarah Palin credit for what she has done to date in a hard and difficult world: Raising kids. Being a mayor. Being a governor. I admire that when she didn't like how things were getting done in Alaska, instead of griping, she did something about it. She had the courage to run for office. Good for her or anyone else that can do it.
I don't agree with everything Palin says. I don't agree with everything anyone says. I think for myself. Guess what? I think that Hillary Clinton is a strong woman too. To paraphrase something Maya Angelo once said, "I admire Hillary on the basis of her having the authority to be herself, a mother, and a politician. When a woman stands up for herself, she stands for all women."
We can all choose for whom we vote. We choose what we think and what we do. That is the beauty of America. The freedom of choice.
For those of you who disagree with me, I respect your right to your opinion. Just don't misquote me, or quote me out of context to make what you want out of what I said.
I don't agree with everything Sarah Palin does. I don't agree with everything
corporate America does. I don't agree with all candidates on all issues. I don't always agree with my husband or kids or friends but that doesn't mean that I don't give them credit where credit is due.
Just because someone is a Republican, Democrat or Independent doesn't mean
that I do or don't, will or won't look at their positives and their negatives. I make up my mind after I see and hear everything the candidates have to say.
Besides, how many times have we voted someone into office and they turned out to be different from what they promised?
As long as we're talking about endorsements, I am endorsing a local Senate candidate named Tony Strickland.
Tony Strickland is a friend of mine and a Republican. He is also for green energy and would make a great Senator.
The idea that we can't cross party lines is ridiculous.
I could sit here and say I am Republican, I live in this box. I could sit here and say I am a Democrat, I live in that box. I could refuse to extend my hand across the aisle for a common goal and cause. Then I could sit side by side--or back to back--with my fellow Americans, forever at a stalemate. Nothing would ever get done.
But I don't live in a box. I want what I think we all want--which is to help people over all.
Rather than only being one sided and part of the problem and getting nothing done, let's work to be a part of a solution. Let's reach our hands across the aisle to help negotiate so we can get to work and get this country moving again.
I was born and raised in a Republican family in Kansas. My father worked for industry and the government. He is a mechanical engineer. He is the very person who taught me the value of our land, air, water, health. And that the greatest gift we have is our family. Funny, he is a Republican yet taught me very fundamental Democratic ideals.
As an adult I have been a registered Republican and a registered Democrat.
Neither party has a patent on caring.
Neither party has a patent of caring for the environment, health or anything else. These are not partisan issues; these are Humanist issues. You will never convince me that just because someone is a Republican that they don't care about the environment or that their kids could be poisoned by environmental pollutants. You will never convince me that just because someone is a Democrat, that they don't care about money or the economy. We all care about the environment and our kids, and money and the economy.
I wish there were a "Humanist" party because that IS the party that I would join.
Currently, I am the President of the consulting firm, Brockovich Research & Consulting, where I am involved in numerous major environmental cases 
Comments
You've done so much, why not start the party yourself...I'd join! =) Keep doing what you do!
Posted by: KLC | September 26, 2008 12:14 PM
I admire you for your ideals, truthfulness, straight forwardness and courage. You are an example of what we (human beings) should all strive to be. And, by the way, you are just as admirable as those women whom you admire! I wish you continued success and happiness.
Nadine
Posted by: Nadine McMillon | September 26, 2008 1:51 PM
Erin,
Seems John Vidal - The UK Guardian, isn't too keen with your article. Strange how a select few in the UK feel they need to correct our political beliefs.
By the way, couldn't they have selected an actress at least equal to your attractiveness than Jr (Julia Roberts) to play your story? Most of the time it's the other way around in H'Wood. I'm sure she won't be too happy with the Article either.
Nice Article
MLM
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/sep/27/pollution.usa
Posted by: Mike NC | September 27, 2008 6:15 PM
Well said Erin! Go Palin! :)
Posted by: Tina | September 27, 2008 6:36 PM
Well said. If only more proponents for a particular viewpoint would opt for rationally rather than rabidly defending their position.
Posted by: Phil Carlson | September 27, 2008 7:37 PM
Hear! Hear! You ROCK!!!
I've been impressed with you, your gumption and intelligence since the movie came out. Yes, I WAS an internet stalker following up on you because your story was fascinating and uplifting.
I DIDN'T know that you had a blog, must have been started it after I did my research. ;)
I'm very pleased that my first impression of you was substantiated. Not only are you intelligent, you have common sense!!! Which is usually more important, but most times it is NOT utilized or even thought necessary!
Thank you for standing up to those divisive idiots that would judge you for having an opinion that differs from theirs. I have kind of the same problem... I'm a Republican that is Pro-Choice and get all kinds of flack for my very strong and personal belief. Tough!!! I'm not a traitor, I just have a mind and I use it to form my own ideals. And I, too, would vote for a Democrat or Independant if I thought they were the better choice (it's just never come up).
Best of luck for the future and keep making sense!
Posted by: Patricia, Dearborn Heights, MI | September 27, 2008 8:21 PM
Thank you Erin for being strong enough to state your feelings about Palin. I'm a Romanian immigrant who's been living in USA for 7 years. I was inspired by you story and now I'm inspired by Sarah Palin. American women need to recongnize and appreciate the absolute freedom they have here. It's not just abortion, it's so much more. What you did was impowering so so is Palin's story.
Thank you for recongizing that when left is trying to dismiss it. You're a true feminist!
Posted by: alina | September 27, 2008 9:47 PM
Fair comment all that you say, but, you must be aware of Pallin's record, of her support for drilling in the wildlife refuge and of her hobby of murdering wild animals, wolves and bears, from helicopters. Are you really surprised that you've received criticism over your remarks? Really? Sure Republicans can be environmentalists, though few seem to be, and I applaud your inclusive, non-partisan attitude in a nation seemingly divided down the middle.
So ok, she's a strong woman, so what? Schwarzenegger is a strong man, I should admire him for that? Strong so easily translates into overpowering the weak and in Pallin's case this means murdering them with a rifle. As an environmentalist with all that implies, to admire someone so adamantly anti the environment is somewhat perverse, so to complain at being criticised is a trifle disingenuous.
Posted by: Peter Simmons | September 28, 2008 3:31 AM
Very well said Erin --- That's what it all comes down to ... be a human :-)
Elly
Posted by: Elly Rose | September 28, 2008 8:27 AM
Hey Erin,
I highly agree with what your saying. To many people keep themselves locked in a small boxed world saying, "Well I'm Democrat." or "I'm a Republican." I myself started my life raised Republican. I then saw things I didn't care for and changed to Democrat. Now I would consider myself a Libertarian. I can see a nice balance of both parties within the party.
I also believe that the health of our planet depends on many factors one being the "human factor". It's true that we can't just give up everything that we use over night. (I mean, even if they could build transportation units, enough for every American by tomorrow, that was not harmful to the planet, many people could not afford to trade over, I know I couldn't. Of course the next thing many would say to me, Ride a bus, well that would be nice if I lived in an area that had public transportation.) Yet I do feel that we should use our own resources, so we are not dependent on external sources, until we can put into use a 100% clean fuel source.
I have not really heard this from either side. The right talks about drilling, but very little on clean fuels for the future. The left seems to only talk about clean fuels, but nothing on how to fix current problems that have been affecting many. Yet the whole time I'm thinking, they don't know what it is like to live under stretched finances. Even if many of them had to buy their own gas, many make more than enough that they would not feel it in their pocket.
Of course most would say, If you have a problem vote against the one's doing this. Well that would be a nice thought, but when you have the other guy that's running doing pretty much the same thing, you've just traded one for another one.
Yet I'm sure I've been preaching to the choir. Let me just say thank you for all that you have done to make this world better.
Your Friend,
John
Posted by: John McFarland | September 28, 2008 10:46 AM
Thank you for being able to THINK for yourself and not being a lemming!
I hear the Lefties are going to be coming after you for thinking for yourself and saying nice things about some Republicans.
It is sad to see these so called "tolerant " people loose their minds like this.
Posted by: moniqueO | September 28, 2008 1:21 PM
I'm a left Liberal and I appreciate your honesty here. I disagree with Palin on most issues and I won't vote for McCain but that doesn't mean Palin isn't worthy of respect. Any woman who gets out there on the front lines of politics and does the work that for years has mainly been done by men gets credit. In this case this isn't about the issues - it's about accomplishments. If it were about the issues...well that's a different argument.
Posted by: MattL | September 29, 2008 11:08 AM
Whatever you believe is your business. i sit here with the movie playing on TV and think you an intelligent caring woman. Palin./McCain have a power agenda. They could care less about us middle class folks. The tax cuts go to the rich supporters. We need health care and decent water, and a healthy environment. Mc Cain/Palin are not interested. I don't see either Dems nor Repubs really caring but I go for the lesser of two evils.
Posted by: Donna Rosenberg | October 16, 2008 11:53 AM
Right on Erin Great words we back you, and you yourself have come very far sence the days of the small office with Ed.
Posted by: Colin B. | March 22, 2009 3:08 AM